Boxed produce handling equipment



April 1951 H. c. BREST 2,548,767

BOXED PRODUCE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Nov. 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4141- INVENTOR.

April 10, 1951 H. c. BREST 2,548,767

BOXED PRODUCE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Nov. 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 OHO Q n'n/El I l 8993 92 I I 92 a3 89 23W: I l 24 1 as I INVENTOR. .IZQRJPI C. B29531 Arm/wry April 10, 1951 H. c. BREST 2,548,767

BOXED PRODUCE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed NOV. 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTOPA/I) April 10, 1951 H. c. BREST 2,548,767

BOXED PRODUCE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed Nov. 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A32 15745919? QBprsr INVEN TOR.

April 10, 1951 H. c. BREST BOXED PRODUCE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Filed NOV. 25, 1946 5 Shee ts-Sheet 5 I l I mu Mm NW 1 A lllz/ /g/ /f/ a w R fi ml ma -Pr 6332:67-

INVENTOR.

.(QTTOPAEY mh mm m Patented Apr. 10, 1951 BOXED PRODUCE HANDLING EQUIPMENT Harry 0. Brest, Pomona, Calif., assigncr to R. M.

Walcott 60., Pomona, Calif., a copartnership Application November 25, 1946, Serial No. 712,222

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for .receiving and conveying produce, and is particularly adapted for installation in a packing house where produce is received at one level to be taken to a lower level and automatically conveyed to a remote point for storing or packing.

A major object of the invention is to provide packing house equipment that is capable of lowering stacks of produce-filled boxes from the receiving level to a lower level, and operable to automatically convey the box stacks from the lowering apparatus to a remote location for further disposition. From a standpoint of practical operation, the invention is of particular advantage with respect to minimizing any manual handling of the produce in that the boxes may be trucked off of the delivery car onto the lowering platform in a stacked formation, automatically taken to a lower level, and transferred to a conveyor to be carried to a remote location as where the stack is to be trucked from the conveyor to its storage space.

Particularly contemplated is the use of a pair of lowering carriers or platforms movable ver tically but in opposite relation so that one is in counterbalancing relation to the other. A particular object of the invention is to accomplish automatic transfer of the box stack from the carriers to a receiving station, specifically by a transfer mechanism responsive automatically to the arrival of the carriers at their lower positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the automatic transfer of the box stack from the dual carriers to a sing-1e or common receiving station from which the box stacks are conveyed automatically for disposal at a remote location. In this connection the invention particularly contemplates the use of a vertically movable platform as the single receiving station, by which the box stacks or individual box loads may be lowered and deposited on the traveling conveyor, all in redetermined timed relation to the operation of the lowering carriers.

The invention contemplates various additional features and objects, including the specific details of the carrier operating mechanisms, the receiving station and "conveyor, and various manual and automatic controls for assuring the operation of the various mechanism in the intended sequence. All these, however, as well as the general features referred to, will be understood from the following detailed description of a typical embodiment of the invention, throughout which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the apparatus showing a typical embodiment of the invention;

.Fig. .2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. '2, showing certain parts in side elevation;

Fig. 4 is ,an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic system embodiedin the apparatus; and

Fig. 6 .is a diagrammatic illustration of the drive and the electrical circuits for controlling operation of the drive.

The apparatus as illustrated in the drawings is adapted for lowering produce from a receiving level H to a storage level i2 and automatically conveying the produce to a point remote from the lowering apparatus. The lowering apparatus includes generally a ,pair of platforms l3 and I4 operating in spaced vertical shafts l5 and I6 and carried on the upper end of plungers I1 and 18 operating in stationary cylinders 49 and 20. The cylinders and their controls are located in pit .2! below the storage level I2.

The lowering platforms I 3 and M travel vertically between the receiving level II and the storage level 12 alternately and in opposite directions relative to one another under the control of a hydraulic system 25 interconnecting the cylinders i9 andli! and operated through gravity by the weight of the produce loaded alternately on the platforms at the receiving level. The cylinders rest on the bottom 22 of the pit 2| and are provided with packing glands .23 and :24 at their 'upper ends surrounding the plungers l1 and it for sealing the fluid in the cylinders.

The hydraulic system 25 interconnecting the cylinders controls the flow of fluid from one cylinder to the other, and includes generally a pair of interconnecting lines 2-6 and 21 each controlling the fiow of fluid in one direction only. The line :26 permits the flow of fluid from the cylinder 19 to the cylinder 20 while line '27 permits the flow of fluid from cylinder 20 tocylinder [9. Flow in opposite directions is prevented .by check valves 2.8 and 29. Lines 26 and 21 are provided with valves 30 and '3! controlling the flow of fluid through said lines and manually operable by handles :32- and 33 located above the receiving level I].

Separate controls .34 and 35, connecting the operating handles 32 and 33 with their respective valves 3.8 and ti, are identical in' construction and operation and may each include a means ,66.

vertically reciprocable bar 33 carrying the handies 32 and 33, accessible at the outside of the front plate 31 of the shaft l and 15. The lower end of each bar 33 is pivotally connected with a link 38 connecting with one end of a double ended lever 39 pivoted at 40 to a bracket 4! located below the receiving level H. The other end of each lever 39 is connected with a vertical rod 42' extending below the storage level !2 and connected with a lever 43 carried on control shafts 44. Each control shaft 44 is rotatably carried by a supporting frame member 45, extending between and secured to the cylinders l9 and 2B and carrying fixed lever 46 connected through link 48 with the control valve lever 41. Thus reciprocation of either control bar 36 by its operating handle 32 or 33 will cause operation of its control valve 35 or 31 to permit flow through its respective line 26 or 2'! interconnecting the cylinders l9 and 2-0. The interconnecting lines 26 and 2'! may be provided with suitably located valves 49 for isolating sections of the lines in the event of repair or replacement of the valves 30 or 34 and may also be manually adjusted to regulate the flow through the lines.

The lowering platforms l3 and 14 may be identical in construction and may each include a series of rollers 51 arranged in a horizontal plane and carried by spaced side plates 52 supported on a base plate 53 secured to the upper end of their respective plungers I! and [8 by a mounting flange 54. The platforms l3 and 14 are guided for vertical reciprocation in their respective shafts l5 and it by pairs of angle irons 55 located at opposite sides and the outer end of each platform. Guide lugs 56 carried by 'the side plates 52 and the outer end of each automatically removing the stacks S of produce filled boxes from the platforms upon descent of a platform to the plane of the storage level I 2. The power driven conveying means includes a pair of spaced drive rollers 58 for cooperating with the outer pairs of each set of rollers 53 of the respective platforms l3 and 14.

Setting controls 60 and 5!, provided in the hydraulic system 25 interconnecting the cylinders i9 and 20, include relief valves 62 in the by-pass lines 25a, 21a and operable by engagement of the platforms [3 and I4 with plungers 53 carried for vertical reciprocation in guide tubes 64 mounted on the frame structure F, see Fig. 4. The lower ends of the rods 63 are connected with their respective valve arms 65. Upon approaching the storage level 12, a platform will engage its respective plunger 63 and cause opening of its relief valve 62 to permit a restricted flow of fluid through the by-pass line 26a or 21a and simultaneous closing of its control valve 35 or 3! through a similar plunger The latter includes spaced plungers 51 located adjacent the plungers 53 and operable by engagement with the platform to cause closing of their respective control valves. Plungers 5! are carried for reciprocation by guide tubes 58 mounted on the frame work F and have their lower ends connected with lever arms 59 fixed to the control shafts 44 through connecting links 10.

It will be seen how engagement of a platform with a pair of plungers 63, 61 will cause simultaneous opening of a relief valve 62 and closing of a control valve 30 or 3| to permit a restricted flow of fluid from one cylinder to the other and consequent retarding of the lowering speed of the platform as the platform settles onto the drive rollers 58.- Engagement of the outer pairs 5! of the platform rollers with the drive rollers 58 will convey the stack S of boxes off of the platform, as will be later described.

A transfer table or platform H located centrally between the platforms [3 and I4 and at the storage level [2, is adapted to alternately receive a stack S of boxes from the platforms. The transfer platform includes spaced side plates '12 for rotatably carrying a series of rollers 73 and supported on a base plate 14 secured to the upper end of a plunger 15 through a mounting flange 75. The plunger 15 is reciprocable in a stationary cylinder 7'] carried at its upper end by the frame work F and at its lower end by the supporting member 45.

Means 8 for lifting the transfer platform ll includes hydraulic pumps 19 at opposite sides of the cylinder TI and located between each set of plungers 63 and 67 for engagement by the platforms [3 and I4 upon their descent. The lower end of each pump 19 is connected with the cylinder H by a valved line for controlling the communication between the pump and the cylinder. The operation of the pumps 19 will be subsequently described.

An interconnecting mechanism BI is provided in conjunction with the transfer platform and controls 34 and 35 for the valves 33 and 31, to control operation of the drive rollers 58, stopping of the drive rollers and lowering of the transfer table H. The mechanism 8! includes a plate 82 supported by the frame F for lateral reciprocation and in line with the vertical plane of the spaced plungers 19a of the pumps 79. The center of the control plate 82 is provided with an elongated opening 83 for passing the plunger 15 of the transfer platform, and the opposite ends of the plate are adapted to alternately engage flanges 84 of the plungers 19a. The control further includes a double-ended yoke 85 pivoted intermediate its ends at 86 to the frame F and a double ended lever 81 pivotally connected at 88 to its opposite ends. Levers 81 are provided at one end with pin and slot connections 89 with the control plate 82. The other ends of the levers 81 are provided with box engaging plates 98 to be alternately engageable by a stack of boxes moving in opposite directions from the platforms (3 and I4.

With the apparatus in the position illustrated throughout the drawings, the platform :3 has made its descent, the outer pairs of rollers 51 are in engagement with the spaced drive rollers 58, and the platform body has closed switch 9|, see Fig. 6, in series with a second switch 92 previously closed by a projection 93 on the underside of the control plate 82. The series connected switches 9|, 92 are connected with one side of a reversing switch 94 in the power supply 95 to the motor 96 for controlling operation of the drive rollers 58. Closing of switches 9| and 92 will cause reversing switch 94 to energize motor 93 and drive rollers 58, through the diagrammatically illustrated drive shown by the dotted lines 91 of Fig. 6, and cause rotation of rollers 51 of the platform I3 and the rollers 73 of the transfer platform 1|. Rotation of the rollers causes the stack S of boxes to shift from the platform 13 onto the platform H. Engagement of the stack direction or the other.

S with the box engaging plate 90 of lever 81, located in the path of the stack S, shifts the con- 'trol plate 82 and moves lug 93 out of engagement 'with the contactor of switch 92, with consequent de-energization of the drive motor 96. Shifting of plate 82 causes one end of the plate to lock plungerlSa in its down position under the platform I3, and its other end simultaneously to release plunger ISa under platform I4. Release of the plunger 19a located under the elevated platform I4 allows the plunger to raise and permit the transfer platform 'II to settle.

A continuously driven spaced chain conveyor I runs at right angles to the direction of movement of the stack S from the platforms I3 and M. onto the transfer platform. One chain of the conveyor is located between the opposing ends of the platforms I3 and II, and the other chain, between platforms I4 and I I, with the upper surface of the chains slightly above the plane of the storage level I2 and below the plane of the stack of boxes moving from the lowering platform onto the transfer platform. The spaced chains I00 extend to remote points at opposite sides of the transfer platform and are carried by spaced sprockets IIlI, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6. The chains I00 are live chains driven by a motor I02 under the control of a manual reversing switch I03 for governing the direction of "rotation or travel of the chains. The chains may be guided and supported in channels I04 with their upper surface parallel to the storage level I2 and slightly above, to give the traveling stacks of boxes suitable clearance from the floor of the storage level I2.

In considering the operation of the apparatus, starting with the parts in the condition illustrated throughout the drawings, assume the lowering platform I3 with the stack S of loaded boxes has made its descent, bringing the rollers 5| of the platform into engagement with the drive rollers 58 and causing switch SI to close, completing the circuit to the drive motor 90. 'Energization of the motor starts the stack S of boxes traveling onto the transfer platform H, and brings the forward edge of the stack S against the control lever 87 with resultant shifting of the control plate 82 and opening of switch 92. Thus the drive motor is de-energized and plunger 19a released to allow the transfer platform to settle. In this manner the transfer platform sets the stack of boxes on the live conveyor chains I00 which, depending upon the direction of rotation of the drive motor I02, carries the boxes in one plate 82 causes simultaneous shifting of the other control lever 81, at the opposite side of the transfer platform II, to move its shoulder 81a out from under the exposed intermediate shaft portion 5m of the innermost roller on the lowering platform I3. Simultaneously with the opening of switch 92 a second lug 93 at the opposite end of the control plate 82 engages a, second switch '92 to close the switch and set up a second circuit for the reversing switch 94, to be later described.

The stack S of boxes carried laterally on the chains I00 is required to travel a given distance before the next lowering platform I4 can be released, to assure clearance of the stack from the transfer platform II and prevent the transfer platform from dumping the stack upon its subsequent upward travel to position for receiving the next stack of boxes. Locking means I05 is provided in the manual controls 34 and 35 to prevent release of a loaded platform until the previous Shifting of the control stack has cleared the transfer table. Such locking means may include a pair of latch plates I05 pivotally mounted at I0! to-the frame structure F in the horizontal plane of the control plate 82. The latch plates I06 cooperate with notches I08 in the valve control plungers 61 when the plungers are down and their control valves 30 or 3| are closed. Cam projections I09 carried on the opposite ends of the control plate 82 em gage arm's H0 on the latch plates I 06 to alternately pivot the latch plate into the notch I08 as the control plate 82 is reciprocated, see Figs. 2 and 4. Engagement of plate I06 with a notch I08 in the control plunger under platform M, prevents movement of the manual control 35 and opening of its valve 3|. To release the manual control 35 for operation, the stack "S of boxes is required to move onto the transfer 'plat form I I, and in so doing to shift the control plate 82 to move cam projection I09 out of engagement with the arm I I0. Release of the control plate 82 from the plungers 19a permits settling of the transfer table I I.

The forward side of the lower box in the stack S moving on the chains I00, is brought into engagement with a roller III, carried on a bell crank H2 and pivotally mounted at I'I3 to the frame structure F. The bell crank -I I2 is "connected to the plunger of a hydraulic pump II4 mounted on the frame structure F. Contact of the stack of boxes with the roller -I I I swings the bell crank to operate the pump H4, causing a flow of fluid through line II5- from the pump cylinder to a pair of pumper cylinders H6 located adjacent the end of each latch plate I06 and adapted to release a latch platefrom its notches I08 depending upon which latch plate has been released. A relief valve H8 is provided in a by-pass line I I9 extending from the line II5 to a reservoir I20. lhe operating arm I2I of the relief valve is connected with an extension I22 of the bell crank M2 by a link I23, to causethe relief valve to open, after the pump has been given an initial stroke sufficient to operate the bumper cylinder plungers I I1, allowing return of the spring loaded plungers I I] and by-pass of the fluid through line II 5 and II-9 to the reservoir I '20. As the stack of boxes passes the roller II I on the bell crank H2, the latter and its associated parts will return to their normal positions and the pump is recharged through the non-return line I24 connected with the reservoir I20.

Where the chains I00 are adapted to selectively travel in either direction transversely from the transfer table 'II a double control is provided for the bumper cylinders H6 at opposite sides of the transfer table as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawmgs.

After the stack S of boxes from the platform I3 has passed the roller III of the control just described and the bumper cylinder II6 has released the latch plate I06 gOVerning the manual control 35 for valve 3|, the operator may release the platform I4 for its descent. Upon approaching the storage level I2, the platform will engage its plunger 63, causing relief valve 62 in line-27a to open, and engage plunger 0'! to cause control valve 3| to close, allowing a, restricted flow through by-pass line 21a and a gradual settling of the platform onto the drive rollers '58. During the settling of platform I4, the center exposed portion of shaft 5 ha. of the innermost roller 51 engages notch 811a, causing downward movement of the control lever 81 and pivoting of the yoke 85,

with resulting upward movement of the other control lever 81 at the opposite side of the transfer plat-form 7 I.' Lever 8? under the platform I4 is then out of the way of its stack of boxes and the other control lever B? at the opposite side of the transfer platform is in position to be engaged by the stack of boxes moving onto the platform II Coming to rest on the drive rollers 58, platform I4 closes switch 9! connected in series with previously closed switch 92 (closed by the control plate 82) to cause. operation of the reversing switch 94, energization of the drive motor 96 and movement of the stack of boxes off of the platform I4 onto the platform II. Engagement of the stack of boxes with the control lever 81 shifts the control plate 82 back to the position illustrated throughout the drawings, and opens switch 92 to the reversing switch 94 to de-energize the drive motor 96. Simultaneously the latch plate 82 releases plunger 19a located at the other side of the platform .I, allowing the platform to settle and the stack to be picked up by the live chains I and conveyed to a remote point. Shift ing of plate 82 also conditions latch I06 under platform I3 for release by its bumper cylinderv 'I I6 and causes cam projection l 89, located at the other end of the plate, to move latch I98 into notch I08 of its control plunger 61.

A pair of limit switches I are positioned at the extreme ends of the chain conveyor I00 for engagement by a stack of boxes. These switches are in series in the main supply line 95 to control the supply to the motors 95 and H32, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 6, and are adapted to stop both motors in the event a stack of boxes.

should reach the end of the conveyor.

To compensate for fluid loss from either cylinder I9, 28 or IT, I provide a suitable hand operated replenishing pump I 30 and reservoir I3i,

see Fig. 5. Line I32 extending from the reservoir.

to the pump is provided with a non-return check valve I33. Common line I35 extending from the pump I3!) is provided with a non-return check valve I36. Branch lines I31, I38 and I39 extend from line I38 to thecylinders i9, 20 and TI, respectively, and are each provided with a manual valve I45. When a selected valve Mb is opened and the pump I39 is manually operated, a replenishing supply of fluid will be delivered to the selected cylinder. To permit the cylinders to be drained or bled, I provide return lines I4 I, I42, and 143 to the reservoir from the branch linesv I31, I38 and I39. Each line I4I, I42,'I43 manual valve I44 for selectively controlling the return of fluid from any one of the cylinders I9, 20 or IT.

Iclaim:

1.. Apparatus for receiving and conveying box stacks, comprising a pair of carriers, means associating the carriers for alternate vertical travel so that one carrier is positioned to receive a box stack at an upper station while the other carrier is at a lower station, a stack conveyor, means operable to shift the box stack transversely fromthe carrier at said lower station, a movable transfer means for taking the stack discharged from the carrier and depositing it onto said conveyor, and means operable by movement of the carriers for positioning the transfer means to receive the discharged stack.

2. Apparatus for receiving and conveying box stacks, comprising a pair of carriers, means associating the carriers for alternate vertical travel so that one carrier is positioned to receive a box stack at an upper station while the other carrier is at a lower station, a stack conveyor, means operable to shift the box stack transversely from the carrier at said lower station, a movable transfer means for taking the stack discharged from the carrier and depositing it onto said conveyor, and means operable by movement of the stack discharging from the carrier to condition said transfer means for movement.

Eli Apparatus for receiving and conveying box stacks, comprising a pair of carriers, means associating the carriers for alternate vertical travel so that one carrier is positioned to receive a box stack at an upper station while the other carrier is at a lower station, a stack conveyor, means operable automatically and by virtue of the arrival of a carrier at said lower station to shift the box stack transversely from the carrier, and a movable transfer means for takin the stack discharged from the carrier and depositing it onto said conveyor.

4. Apparatus for receiving and conveying box stacks, comprising a pair of carriers, means associating the carriers for alternate vertical travel so that one carrier is positioned to receive a box stack at an upper station while the other carrier is at a lower station, a stack conveyor, means operable automatically and by virtue of the arrival of a carrier at said lower station to shift the box stack transversely from the carrier, a movable transfer means for taking the stack discharged from the carrier and depositing it onto said conveyor, and means operable by movement of the carriers for positioning the transfer means to receive the discharged stack.

5. Apparatus for receiving and conveying box stacks, comprising a pair of carriers, means associating the carriers for alternate vertical travel so that one carrier is positioned to receive a box stack at an upper station while the other carrier is at a lower station, a stack conveyor, means operable automatically and by virtue of the arrival of a carrier at said lower station to shift the box stack transversely from the carrier, a movable transfer means for taking the stack discharged from the carrier and depositing it onto said conveyor, and means operable by movement of the stack discharging from the carrier to condition said transfer means for movement.

6. Apparatus for receiving and conveying box stacks, comprising a pair of carriers, means associating the carriers for alternate vertical travel so that one carrier is positioned to receive a box stack at an upper station while the other carrier is at a lower station, a manual control for governing travel of the carriers, a stack conveyor, means operable to shift the box stack transversely from the carrier at said lower station, a movable transfer means for taking the stack discharged from the carrier and depositing it onto said conveyor, and means for normally holding said manual means inoperative and conditioned by movement of the box stack.

'7. Apparatus for receiving and conveying box stacks, comprising a pair of carriers, means associating the carriers for alternate vertical travel so that one carrier is positioned to receive a box stack at an upper station while the other carrier is at a lower station, a manual control for governing travel of the carriers, a stack conveyor, means operable to shift the box stack transversely from the carrier at said lower station, a movable transfer means for taking the stack discharged from the carrier and depositing it onto said conveyor, and means for preventing a successive operation of the manual control conditioned by movement of the stack from the carrier to the transfer means and released by movement of the stack leaving the transfer means.

8. An apparatus for receiving and conveying box stacks, comprising a pair of alternately vertically movable carriers movable between upper and lower stations, hydraulic plunger and cylinder means for each carrier, a passage between said cylinders for passing fluid displaced from one cylinder to the other, a manual control valve in said passage for controlling movement of said carriers, a power driven stack conveyor at said lower station, power driven means operable to shift the box stack transversely from the carrier onto said conveyor, means normally preventing successive operation of said manual control valve conditioned by movement of the stack from the carrier to the transfer means and releasable by movement of the stack leaving the transfer means, and means at the end of said conveyor engageable by the box stack for shutting off the power upon a stack approaching the end of the conveyor.

9. In an apparatus for conveying a box stack,

including a vertically traveling carrier, and a 25 mechanism at the end of travel of said carrier for shifting a box stack transversely of the carrier, said mechanism comprising conveyor rollers 10 mounted on said carrier and adapted to suppor the box stack, and drive rollers engageable by said conveyor rollers at the end of travel of said carrier for operating said conveyor rollers.

HARRY C. BREST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,300,987 Marcy Apr. 15, 1919 1,422,091 Donaldson July 11, 1922 1,632,293 Threefoot et a1 June 14, 1927 1,809,456 Streeter June 9, 1931 1,835,850 Cowley Dec. 8, 1931 1,899,336 Keech Feb. 28, 1933 2,017,156 Mattler Oct. 15, 1935 2,139,377 Brandt Dec. 13, 1938 2,317,000 Tallman Apr. 20, 1943 2,362,809 Evans Nov. 14, 1944 2,423,557 Gray July 8, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 349,298 Great Britain May 28, 1931 

